Friday, July 20, 2012

Your Home: A Happy Place?

Are you happy in your home? Is it a place where you feel relaxed, and fulfilled? If so, how much of that feeling comes from your surroundings, your belongings, and your "systems" to keep it all together?

I tend to walk in my door and feel a gripping sense of stress relating to how messy and unorganized my surroundings feel, along with a sense of disappointment in myself for not addressing the 550 things that need to be organized, repaired, replaced, reworked, etc.

I've felt this way for a long time.... so according to the chart below, I need to change something...

I guess one option would be lowering my standards for my expectations around the house... but that seems like a slippery slope. So, in exploring other options, I was super interested in Apartment Therapy's recent post "10 Simple Things to Make You Happier at Home". Some of the tips, like making your bed, might seem pretty simple... but who knew that bed making is a "keystone habit" that directly correlates to ones happiness, productivity, and ability to stick to a budget? Love!

In a nutshell, here are AT's tips for home happiness....

1. Make your bed.

2. Bring every room back to "ready".

3. Display sentimental items around your home.

4. Start a one-line-a-day gratitude journal.

5. If you can't get out of it (ie chores), get into it.

6. Before you get up each morning, set an intent for the day.

7. Do small favors for your housemates, expecting nothing in return.

8. Call at least one friend or family member a day.

9. Spend money on things that cultivate experiences at home.

10. Spend a few minutes a day connecting with something greater than yourself.

2 comments:

Thanks so much for sharing my AT post on your blog! I appreciate it and am glad you enjoyed the post. :) I am a naturally messy person, and I swear the making my bed habit has changed my life in the last month.

I totally agree with the making the bed tip. I figure if I do not get anything else accomplished during the day then at least I made the bed and when I come home the bedroom looks somewhat neat- depending on what else went on during the morning on our way to work/camp/school/babysitter. I recommend it to everybody.